496 Practical hints
Battery
Connect the positive lead to the posi-
tive terminal and fasten it’s cover
(
page 494).
Connect the negative lead to the nega-
tive terminal (
page 494).
Charging the battery
If the battery is discharged, the battery can
be charged using the jump-start contacts
located in the engine compartment
(
page 498).
Charge the battery in accordance with
the instructions of the battery charger
manufacturer.
Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Large 12-volt storage batteries contain
lead. Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.
!Never invert the terminal connections!
iThe following procedures must be carried
out following any interruption of battery power
(e.g. due to reconnection):
Set the clock (page 169).
Vehicles with COMAND system with naviga-
tion module*: Time and date are set auto-
matically.
Synchronize the door windows
(
page 237).
Synchronize the power tilt/sliding sunroof
(
page 242).
Synchronize the power folding exterior rear
view mirrors* (
page 200).
Warning!G
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle unless the accessory battery
charge unit approved by Mercedes-Benz is
being used. Gases may escape during charg-
ing and cause explosions that may result in
paint damage, corrosion or personal injury.
An accessory battery charge unit specially
adapted for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz is
available, permitting the charging of the
battery in its installed position. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center for information and availability.
Charge battery in accordance with the
separate instructions for the accessory
battery charger.
497 Practical hints
Jump starting
Jump starting
If the battery is discharged, the engine can
be started with jumper cables and the bat-
tery of another vehicle. Observe the follow-
ing:
Jump starting should only be performed
using the jump-start contacts located
in the engine compartment
(
page 498).
Jump starting should only be performed
when the engine and catalytic
converter
1 are cold.
Do not start the engine if the battery is
frozen. Let the battery thaw out first.
Only jump start from batteries with the
same voltage rating (12 V). Jump start-
ing with a higher voltage battery could
damage the vehicle’s electrical system,
which will not be covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Only use jumper cables with sufficient
cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.
Always make sure the jumper cables
are not on or near pulleys, fans or other
parts that move when the engine is
started or running.
Warning!G
Failure to follow these directions will cause
damage to the electronic components, and
can lead to a battery explosion and severe
injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting
or jump starting, you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water, and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and very explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc.
Attempting to jump start a frozen battery
can result in it exploding, causing personal
injury.
Read all instructions before proceeding.
1Vehicles with gasoline engine only.
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!Avoid repeated and lengthy starting
attempts.
Do not attempt to start the engine using a
battery quick charge unit.
If the engine does not run after several unsuc-
cessful starting attempts, have it checked at the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Excessive unburned fuel generated by repeated
failed starting attempts may damage the catalyt-
ic converter
1.
Make sure the jumper cables do not have loose
or missing insulation.
Make sure the cable clamps do not touch any
other metal part while the other end is still at-
tached to a battery.
498 Practical hints
Jump starting
The jump-start contacts are located in the
engine compartment.
1Negative (-) terminal
2Positive (+) terminal
3Positive terminal cover
Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Apply parking brake (page 65).
Set automatic transmission to
positionP (
page 185).
Open the hood (page 341).
Remove cover from negative
terminal1.
Flip up cover3 of positive terminal2
in direction of arrow.
1Negative terminal of discharged
battery
2Positive terminal of discharged battery
4Positive terminal of charged battery
5Negative terminal of charged battery
Connect positive terminal2 and4
with the jumper cable. Clamp cable to
charged battery4 first.
Start engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.
Connect negative terminals1 and5
of the batteries with the second jumper
cable. Clamp the cable to negative
terminal5 of the charged battery
first.
Start the engine of the disabled vehi-
cle.
You can now turn on the electrical consum-
ers. Do not switch on the headlamps under
any circumstances.
Remove the jumper cables first from
negative terminals1 and5 and then
from positive terminals2 and4.
You can now switch on the headlamps.
Have the battery checked at the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Warning!G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(
page 489).
!Never invert the terminal connections!
504 Practical hints
Fuses
The electrical fuses in your vehicle serve to
switch off malfunctioning power circuits.
If a fuse is blown, the components and sys-
tems secured by that fuse will stop operat-
ing.If a newly inserted fuse blows again, have
the cause determined and rectified by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
A fuse chart explains the fuse allocation
and fuse amperages. It is located in the
cargo compartment with the vehicle tool
kit (
page 448).
The electrical fuses are located in different
fuse boxes:
Fuse box in engine compartment
(
page 505)
Fuse box in cargo compartment
(
page 505)
Fuse box in passenger compartment
(
page 506)Before replacing fuses:
Apply parking brake (page 65).
Make sure the automatic transmission
is set toP (
page 185).
The gear position indicator in the multi-
function display should be on
P.
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Turn off the engine (page 40).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Open the driver’s door (this puts
the starter switch in position0,
same as with the SmartKey re-
moved from the starter switch). The
driver’s door then can be closed
again.
Warning!G
Only use fuses approved by Mercedes-Benz
with the specified amperage for the system
in question and do not attempt to repair or
bridge a blown fuse. Using other than ap-
proved fuses or using repaired or bridged
fuses may cause an overload leading to a
fire, and/or cause damage to electrical
components and/or systems. Have the
cause determined and remedied by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iA blown fuse must be replaced by an appro-
priate spare fuse (recognizable by its color or the
fuse rating given on the fuse) of the amperage
recommended in the fuse chart. Any
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center will be glad to
advise you on this subject.
513 Technical data
Engine
Engine
ModelML 320 CDI (164.1221)
1The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center for the corresponding data of all special bodies and special
equipment.
ML 350 (164.1861)
Engine642272
Mode of operationDiesel 4-stroke engine4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
No. of cylinders66
Bore3.27 in (83.00 mm)3.66 in (92.90 mm)
Stroke3.62 in (92.00 mm)3.38 in (86.00 mm)
Total piston displacement182 cu in (2987 cm3)213 cu in (3498 cm3)
Compression ratio17.7:110.7:1
Output acc. to SAE J 1349215 hp/4000 rpm
(160 kW/4000 rpm)268 hp/6000 rpm2
(200 kW/6000 rpm)
2Premium fuel required. Performance may vary with fuel octane rating.
Maximum torque acc. to SAE J 1349400 lb-ft/1600 - 2400 rpm
(543 Nm/1600 - 2400 rpm)258 lb-ft/2400 - 5000 rpm
(350 Nm/2400 - 5000 rpm)
Maximum engine speed4500 rpm6500 rpm
Firing order1-4-2-5-3-61-4-3-6-2-5
Poly-V-belt2 035 mm2 404 mm
514 Technical data
Engine
ModelML 550 (164.1751)
1All data preliminary. The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center for the corresponding data of all special
bodies and special equipment.
ML 63 AMG (164.1772)
2The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center for the corresponding data of all special bodies and special
equipment.
Engine273156
Mode of operation4-stroke engine, gasoline injection4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
No. of cylinders88
Bore3.86 in (98.00 mm)4.02 in (102.20 mm)
Stroke3.56 in (90.50 mm)3.72 in (94.60 mm)
Total piston displacement333.2 cu in (5461 cm3)378.8 cu in (6208 cm3)
Compression ratio10.7:111.3:1
Output acc. to SAE J 1349382 hp/6000 rpm3
(285 kW/6000 rpm)
3Premium fuel required. Performance may vary with fuel octane rating.
503 hp/6800 rpm3
(375 kW/6800 rpm)
Maximum torque acc. to SAE J 1349391 lb-ft/2800 - 4800 rpm
(530 Nm/2800 - 4800 rpm)465 lb-ft/5200 rpm
(630 Nm/5200 rpm)
Maximum engine speed6500 rpm7200 rpm
Firing order1-5-4-2-6-3-7-81-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
Poly-V-belt2 404 mm2 360 mm
522 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants
Capacities
Vehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match. Therefore only use
products tested and approved by
Mercerdes-Benz.
Please refer to the Factory Approved
Service Products pamphlet (USA only), or
inquire at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
Warning!G
Comply with all valid regulations with re-
spect to handling, storing and disposing of
service fluids. Otherwise you could
endanger persons or the environment.
Keep service fluids out of the reach of
children.
For health reasons, you should prevent
service fluids from coming into direct
contact with your skin or clothing.
If a service fluid is swallowed, contact a
physician immediately.
ModelCapacityFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Engine with oil filterML 320 CDI9.0 US qt (8.5 l)Approved engine oils
ML 3508.5 US qt (8.0 l)Approved engine oils
ML 5509.5 US qt (9.0 l)Approved engine oils
ML 63 AMG10.3 US qt (9.7 l)Approved engine oils
Automatic transmissionML 320 CDI
ML 350, ML 5509.5 US qt (9.0 l)MB Automatic Transmission Fluid
ML 63 AMG9.7 US qt (9.2 l)MB Automatic Transmission Fluid
525 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants
Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their
suitability in our engines and durability for
our service intervals. Therefore, only use
approved engine oils and oil filters
required for vehicles with Maintenance
System. For a listing of approved engine
oils and oil filters, refer to the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet
(USA only), or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.Engine oil additives
Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG
lubricating oil are used in the air condition-
ing system.
Brake fluid
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center will provide you with additional
information.
!Using engine oils and oil filters of
specification other than those expressly
required for the Maintenance System, or chang-
ing of oil and oil filter at change intervals longer
than those called for by the Maintenance System
will result in engine or emission control system
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Please follow Maintenance System recommen-
dations for scheduled oil changes. Failure to do
so will result in engine or emission control
system damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!Do not blend oil additives with engine oil.
They may damage the engine.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from blending
oil additives are not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based
lubricating oil. Otherwise damage to the system
will occur.
Warning!G
During vehicle operation, the boiling point of
the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from the
atmosphere. Under extremely strenuous
operating conditions, this moisture content
can lead to the formation of bubbles in the
system, thus reducing the system’s
efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be replaced
regularly. Refer to your vehicle’s
Maintenance Booklet for replacement inter-
val.